Rail-clamp.



110. 760,461. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

T. w. LINGARD. RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 14. 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 (SETS-SHEET 1.

aaamw 7% WW I aumouwnsummm o c No. 760,461. PATBNTED MAY 24, 1904. T. W. LINGARD. RAIL ULAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED 001..14. 1903. H0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-11221 2- wuewbom:

UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

I RAIL-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 760,461, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed October 14, 1903. Serial No. 176,944. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS XVILLIAM LIN- G'ARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakgrove, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to means for fastening and holding the fish-plates to track-rails and the rails to the ties.

The invention contemplates a construction whereby the fish-plates are clamped securely to the rails and the rails held firmly to the ties without the use of bolts, a clamp of substantially inverted-tong construction with means thereon for locking the members shut being employed for this purpose.

The invention in addition is designed not only for the purpose of holding the rails fast to the ties, but to also hold them in such manner as to give them side support to prevent tilting.

The invention provides simple means for fastening the rail-clamp to the tie and holding it in upright position. The construction is also such that the clamp can be readily released from locked position.

An embodiment of the invention is delineated for purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and upon inspection of which novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the invention will be apparent.

In the drawings like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views, of which-- Figure 1 is a view of the clamp. Fig. 2 is a view of a part of a tie prepared for the reception of the clamp. Fig. 3 is a view showing the clamp in position on a tie and ready to be locked to secure the rail, and Fig. 4: is a View showing the clamp in locked position on tie and rail.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A designates the clamp; B, the tie; O, the rail, and D the fish-plates.

Clamp A comprises members 1, fastened together by pivot 2. Members 1 are curved outwardly and then inwardly above pivot 2 to form locking tong-like arms 3, the ends 4 of which are so formed as to enter apertures in the fish-plates and rail from opposite sides and to cross each other therein. Near ends 4 of arms 3 are provided lugs 5, arranged to seat against fish-plates 1) and secure them to the rail. Below pivot 2 members 1 are curved downwardly, then upwardly, and then laterally, terminating in straight laterally-extending portions, thus forming arms 6,11aving apertures 7 therein for the reception of spikes or other fastening means for securing them to the tie. On the bends 7 of arms 3 are provided lugs 8, which are rounded and beveled on their upper edges 9. Lugs 8 are placed at points slightly removed from the edges of arms 3 and are arranged so that when members 1 are moved on pivot 2 to close arms 3 arms 6 will slip over lugs 8 to lock the device in closed position, beveled edges 9 being provided on lugs 8 to facilitate this operation. The edges of arms 3 projecting beyond lugs 8 at 10 serve to prevent arms 6 from sli 'iping over beyond arms 3. Members 1 are so fastened together as to permit arms 6 to pass over lugs 8, and the parts are so arranged that members 1 are locked closed when lugs 5 are firmly seated against fish-plates D and the ends of arms 6 are in position to be fastened to the tie.

When it is desired to fasten the rail to the tie, arms 6 are raised to open tong-like arms 3 and the clamp inserted in the inset 11 in the tie and under the rail. Arms 6 are then forced down, closing ends 4 of arms 3 through the apertures in fish-plates and rail, lugs 5 being held firmly against the fish-plates and the entire device being held in locked position by lugs 8 engaging the edges of arms 6, as has been previously explained. The device 18 then spiked to the tie through apertures 7 of arms 6. The clamp being held in locked position by lugs 8, the spikes are thereby relieved of all strain incident to the clamping position of the device, said lugs holding and maintaining the strain against fish-plates and rail.

It will be obvious that changes and alterations in the specific construction disclosed and that various other embodiments of the invention may readily be made without in the least departing from the principle thereof.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, said members having arms arranged to pass through a rail, and other arms arranged to be secured to atie, substantially as described.

2. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having means thereon to clamp the rail, substantially as described.

3. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having lugs thereon to clamp the rail, substantially as described.

4. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having means thereon to lock the clamp, substantially as described.

5. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having lugs thereon to lock the clamp, substantially as described.

6. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having beveled lugs thereon to lock the clamp, substantially as described.

7. A rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, said members having arms arranged to clamp a rail and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

8. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to clamp a rail and having means thereon to lock the clamp, substantially as described.

9. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having means thereon to clamp the rail, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

10. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having lugs thereon to clamp the rail, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

11. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having means thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

12. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having lugs thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

13. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to pass through a rail and having beveled lugs thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

1 1. In a rail-clamp comprising members pivoted together, arms arranged to clamp a rail and having means thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

15. The combination With a rail and a tie having an inset therein, of a clamp adapted to seat in said inset, and comprising arms arranged to pass through the rail and other arms arranged to be secured to the tie, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a rail and a tiehaving an inset therein, of a clamp adapted to seat in said inset, and comprising arms arranged to pass through arail and having means thereon to clamp the rail, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

17 The combination with a rail and a tie having an inset therein, of a clamp adapted to seat in said inset, and comprising arms arranged to pass through a rail and having lugs thereon to clamp the rail, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a rail and a tie having an inset therein, of a clamp adapted to seat in said inset, and comprising arms arranged to pass through a rail and having means thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

19. The combination with a rail and a tie having an inset therein, of a clamp adapted to seat in said. inset, and comprising arms arranged to pass through a rail and having lugs thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a rail and a tie having an inset therein, of a clamp adapted to seat in said inset, and comprising arms arranged to pass through a rail and having beveled lugs thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

21. The combination with a rail and a tie having an inset therein, of a clamp adapted to seat in said inset, and comprising arms arranged to clamp a rail and having means thereon to lock the clamp, and other arms arranged to be secured to a tie, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS WILIiIAlII LINGARD.

Witnesses:

ED. HARRIS, JEFFERSON F. GRANT. 

